Chapter 9
Sesshomaru was released from the invisible grip and immediately ran at Antu. He swiped his poisonous claws at him again and again but each time the claws missed. Antu jumped back and hovered in the air, and then shot out a ball of black energy at Sesshomaro. The blast hit Sesshomaru dead on, raising a cloud of dust, but Sesshomaru emerged from the dust without a scratch and stared off at Antu.
"Is that the best attack you have?" Sesshomaru said. "Pathetic."
"You are strong Sesshomaru, I'll give you that much," Antu said. "But this fight is far from over." Another series of energy blasts shot out at Sesshomaru, each hitting him, but leaving no marks.
"Enough of this." Sesshomaru said. He drew out his sword. The Tokijin. "I'll show you what real power is, you fool." He swiped his sword and released the Dragon Strike attack at Antu. The blue lightning energy arced toward Antu, who stood his ground. As the attack was about to hit, he raised his hand, and the attack stopped inches from striking him. The energy crackled as the unseen wall of energy prevented the attack from hitting the target. With another wave of his hand Antu dispersed the blue lightning energy.
"Is that the best you have?" Antu chided.
Instead of responding with words, Sesshomaru began attacking with sword thrusts, all the while the blade glowing. However, none of the attacks hit Antu, who still managed to dodge each blow. Antu raised his hand and a wave of unseen energy hit Sesshomaru and sent him back. In return, Sesshomaru sent out another attack from his sword, but the energy was stopped and removed once again.
"I grow tired of this." Sesshomaru said and released another energy attack.
"Then allow me to finish it." Antu said and raised his hand, grabbing Sesshomaru with a clenched fist. Sesshomaru gasped, as if he could not breathe. His eyes went wide as he was taken by surprise, his sword dropping from his hand. "To easy."
The unseen force raised Sesshomaru into the air and then slammed him down into the ground, repeatedly. Each slam caused more bruises to appear on the full dog demon. The energy then lifted Sesshomaru high into the air, tumbling as he went. As he regained his posture a solid beam of black energy pierced him, right through his stomache. Sesshomaru's eyes went wide with surprise once more as he fell to the ground, though managed to get back up once more, his sword in his hand.
"The mighty, Sesshomaru," Antu taunted. "I thought you would have been a more worthy opponent. Pity, after Naraku told me so much about you."
"Naraku?" Sesshomaru said, though in visible pain.
"Yes, I had an agreement with him: kill you and he'll provide the location of the remaining jewel shards."
"You will never get them," Sesshomaru said. "I will kill you." He drew out his lightwip and attacked Antu, who batted it away with a crackle of energy.
"You are not strong enough to fight me, not anymore," Antu said. "But you still might be useful. You are one of the most powerful demons around here. There must be something I can use you for. Oh, I now."
A dark swirl of energy began to surround Antu, and he began to rise into the air. Energy crackled around his fringe tips as the darkness began to spread. It drew closer and closer to Sesshomaru, who swiped at it with his claws. Tentacles emerged from the dark energy and grabbed Sesshomaru's limbs. Sesshomaru used his strength to break free but was unable to, as he had been weakened during the fight and was tired. The tentacles began to retract, bringing Sesshomaru with them into the darkness. Then, Sesshomaru was gone, brought into the darkness by the tentacles, and then the dark energy was gone as well, leaving only Antu, and Sesshomaru's companions who had run off when the fight began. They could not believe what had happened: Sesshomaru was gone.
"The mighty Sesshomaru," Antu said. "He is now mine. Now, with his power, I am ready for any tricks Naraku throws at me."
Antu began to fly away, back toward Naraku, however the Saimyosho who had been watching the battle had already left, to report to its master.